Month: February 2021

This article was originally published by Christopher Carey on Cities today, the leading news platform for urban mobility and innovation reaching an international audience of city guides. For the latest updates, see Cities Today Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Youtubeor sign up for Cities Today News.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) granted that Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) a decision log for the East San Fernando Valley light rail transit project showing the system meets federal guidelines for environmental analysis.

The decision paves the way for the agency to apply for federal funding for the planning and construction of the 14.8 kilometer long project that connects Van Nuys’ G (Orange) metro station with the Sylmar / San Metrolink station Fernando will connect.

“The East San Fernando Valley light rail project has been one of my top transport priorities since I was elected to the city council,” said Metro director Paul Krekorian.

“This critical backbone project will be the first light rail line in the valley, connecting communities, revitalizing neighborhoods, reducing traffic jams and improving air quality. Last month we pushed the project forward with a $ 30 million (£ 21.7 million) investment in utility works to expedite construction.

“With the Federal Transport Authority’s decision protocol, this line can now be considered for federal funding opportunities, and we are well on the way to fully funding and completing the basis for the future of transit in the San Fernando Valley.”

[Read: How do you build a pet-friendly gadget? We asked experts and animal owners]

The light rail line will mainly operate along Van Nuys Boulevard – one of the busiest corridors in the valley. Metro received California’s environmental permit for the project last December.

With an end-to-end travel time of 31 minutes, daily boardings are expected to exceed 30,000 by 2040.

First / last mile

Metro has also developed a plan for the first / last mile of the project, detailing improvements that will make walking and cycling to and from the planned 14 transit stations safer.

The agency will work with the City of Los Angeles to identify an improved parallel first / last mile bike route that will replace existing bike lanes on Van Nuys Boulevard and remove the project in Panorama City and Pacoima.

“The East San Fernando Valley light rail transit project is just one of several major transportation improvements we have in store for the San Fernando Valley,” said Phillip A. Washington, CEO of Metro. “It happens to be the first to start construction as we keep our promise of better mobility for the residents of the valley.”

The project will officially start construction in 2022 and is expected to open by 2028.

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Published on February 26, 2021 – 12:00 UTC

February may be a month of black history, but the reality is that we should always celebrate the inventors who changed the world with their ideas, hard work and dedication. Below are just a few of the influential people who made a huge impact in the technology field. The next time you turn on the lights, answer a call, access social media, or order something online, think about how one of these inventors paved the way for our modern technological conveniences.

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Otis Boykin: Precision Wire Electric Resistor

1920-1982

Photo by Aleks Dorohovich on Unsplash

Thanks to Boykin’s work, we can now set an exact resistance value for the wiring in our electronics. This has allowed our televisions, PCs, and radios to make leaps and bounds to the modern devices we have today. Boykin’s work also led to the implantable pacemaker – a medical device used by millions to treat heart disease.

Mark Dean: Assistance in creating the first gigahertz chip, a color PC monitor and more

1957-

Mark Dean – computer scientist, engineer and IBM Fellow – worked with IBM to develop technologies like the first gigahertz chip. Dean has since received numerous awards and received his PhD from Stanford. His work was monumental and affects our daily lives in many ways, paving the way for today’s computers and game consoles.

Jesse Russell: Cellular

1948-

Emilija Manevska / Getty Images

Think about Jesse Russell every time you pick up your smartphone. During his decades in the telecommunications industry, Russell was instrumental in bringing cellular communications up to date. Numerous patents in the field for innovations such as its wireless communication base station and mobile data phone.

Fredrick McKinley Jones: Automatic Cooling System for Long Distance Trucks

1983-1961

Another inventor we have to thank for our modern conveniences is Fredrick McKinley Jones. He made it possible to ship items that need to stay cool with numerous patents for cooling. He also contributed to other industries, particularly film, as well as the medical field. Only when you buy products in store or order perishable goods online has Jones’ work helped make it happen.

Jerry Lawson: Fairchild Channel F video game console and cassette

1940-2011

Lawson helped develop the Fairchild Channel F console, the first cartridge gaming system, in 1976. With games like video blackjack, bowling, checkers, and slot machines, it was none other than the games we have today. But without Lawson’s work, we might not have today’s highly graphic titles or consoles. Some people even refer to Lawson as the father of modern gaming.

Alice H. Parker: Gas stove

1895-1920

Alice Parker patented a natural gas stove in 1919. Their invention helped modernize the HVAC industry and central heating systems, enabled better energy savings, and removed us from reliance on wood and coal. Needless to say, our houses are now much more comfortable thanks to their revolutionary concept.

Garrett Morgan: Three position traffic light

1877-1963

Getting stuck at a signal in traffic is the worst, but these signals play an important role in regulating traffic. Morgan generated a T-shaped automated signal with three positions including a warning position. He sold the invention for $ 40,000.

Roy Clay: computer science pioneer

1929-

In the 1960s, Roy Clay led the team at HP that came out with the 2116A. He also developed software for the computer. A hugely influential figure in modern technology, Clay has worked on developing electrical safety testers and has helped others get involved in the technology industry.

Marie Van Brittan Brown: Home security system

1922-1999

Taylor Frint / Digital Trends

Marie Van Brittan Brown, who created the first home security system, applied for a patent in 1966 for her invention of the CCTV (Closed Circuit Television Security) system. CCTV systems are used to this day, and thanks to Brown’s contribution, homes and businesses are deployed in every area of ​​the world has affordable access to home security.

Shirley Jackson: Charge Density Wave Research

1946-

Shirley Jackson remains one of the most impressive people of all time. In addition to her doctorate in particle physics, Dr. Jackson worked with Bell Laboratories on research related to charge density waves. Charge density waves are important for the creation of high temperature superconductors that have all possible technological applications. President Bill Clinton even named Jackson chairman of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Lisa Gelobter: Contributing to Shockwave, Hulu, and more

1971-

Not only was Obama Chief Digital Service Officer of the Department of Education promised, but he was also involved in many of the technologies we use today. She worked on Hulu and Shockwave, and is even held responsible for creating the animation used in GIFs. And as if that weren’t impressive enough, Gelobter acted as chief digital officer for BET Networks.

James E. West: electret microphone

1931-

Foil electret microphones may not sound as exciting, but the technology is used in nearly 90% of all microphones produced annually. West patented the electret microphone in 1962 and now it can be found in everything from telephones to hearing aids to baby monitors, not to mention a host of other devices.

Lewis Latimer: carbon filament for lightbulbs

1848-1928

Lewis Latimer worked on some fairly landmark inventions, but often receives little recognition. He worked with Alexander Bell to design his patent for the telephone, for example, and he patented the carbon filament for the light bulb. Latimer’s contributions have fundamentally changed the way we live, work and communicate.

Gladys West: Contributions to GPS

1930-

GPS is almost ubiquitous these days and is used in everything from travel to weather to the military. However, the technology would not be possible without the contributions of Gladys West. As a mathematician and programmer, West programmed a computer to perform calculations for a geodetic earth model that enabled GPS.

Granville Woods: Induction Telegraph

1856-1910

Granville Woods invented a few devices, including a hybrid telephone-telegraph that allowed people to talk over telegraph wires. Additionally, Woods created the troller, which enabled trolleys to receive power from overhead lines. His contributions played an important role in our communications, electronics, and travel industries.

Marc Hannah: 3D graphics software

1956-

Marc Hannah is a world-renowned inventor, chief architect, and co-founder of Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI). As the architect of the 3D effects software, he contributed directly and indirectly to various fields including the film industry and the military. If you’ve ever thought the special effects at Jurassic Park were impressive, then thanks to Hannah.

Frank S. Greene: High Speed ​​Semiconductor Computer Storage Systems

1938-2009

Frank S. Greene, electrical engineer, inventor, teacher, and attorney, was a Silicon Valley powerhouse. As a PhD student and one of the world’s leading providers of semiconductor technology, Greene has applied for a patent for an integrated circuit. His patent helped Fairchild become a leader in semiconductor technology in the 1960s.

Editor’s recommendations

“All models are wrong, but some are useful.” This is a famous quote from 20th century statistical thinker George EP Box.

This may seem like a strange message – shouldn’t all the models we build be as correct as possible? However, as a data scientist, I see great wisdom in this statement. After all, companies don’t buy AI for model accuracy, they buy it to add business value. Many companies are investing in AI today without realizing the full potential for business impact. It’s time to postpone the conversation.

The problem? Most groups start developing their AI solution by discussing what they want to predict and quickly move on to discussing model accuracy. This strategy often leads data scientists into the doldrums of model metrics unrelated to business KPIs. Instead, we need to focus on the business outcomes we want and what actions the AI ​​can dictate to achieve those goals.

Let’s use an example from a software company to illustrate this. This company’s accounts receivable team may use AI to predict if an invoice will be paid on time. On its own, that forecast has limited business value – an accurate prediction that every customer will pay on time doesn’t quite meet the goal of shortening the cash-to-sales cycle. Instead, this team should think holistically about the AI ​​solution: how can they align their prediction with the most important recommendations and actions that will help the user focus on their time?

How do we do that? We need to break the silos between business leaders and data scientists. Let’s get executives and data scientists to work together on four key pillars to align businesses with a smarter core approach:

• MEASURE UP the KPI. What is the business bottom line that we track and use as a measure of tracking the impact on your model?

• INTERVENTION based on what the AI ​​dictates. What organizational levers and restrictions are there and how can your AI provide guidance?

• EXPERIMENT Measure impact. Build models and use them in controlled experiments to attribute effects to the use of AI.

• ITERATE through constant monitoring, optimization and experimentation. Data changes, opportunities arise, no model is permanent.

These four pillars will help data scientists ask their business partners more valuable questions and give business leaders a deeper understanding of the power of AI within the organization. Too often it is difficult or time consuming for technologists to educate their business partners about AI or to ask them why a particular predictive model is proposed. AI can be more than the data sets that drive it. Adopting these four pillars early and having honest conversations can often lead to greater agility and resilience – crucial, as local and global events change the business landscape around us from temporary anomalies to events involving black swans.

Let’s go back to the bottom line we talked about – receiving payment on invoices.

Typically, companies create a predictive model to identify which customers are at risk of not paying on time. However, when we focus on a better way to measure the impact, we turn this forecast flag into a prescriptive solution and train the model to increase expected revenue within 30 days of submitting the invoice.

Today, accounts receivable workers may have several tools to ensure that payment is collected within 30 days. Everyone has their own effectiveness, from phone calls to email nudges to automatic payment proposals or texts to suspend the service. Employees can choose from any number of these actions to try to hit a target. However, they can be limited to where to spend their time. A model that alone predicts outcomes will not help employees choose what action to take. Instead, try to build models that predict the outcomes of these interventions, influencing actions that will produce optimal results.

We have now turned our Predictive Flag program into mandatory interventions. However, models are not intended to be static. Therefore, running tests, tracking real-time interactions, accessing temporal data (one at a time), and monitoring your KPI is a critical step in ensuring that your models do not collapse in the event of unforeseen events. Models will not live forever. So be agile and know how to deploy new models. Iteration isn’t just about fixing problems. It’s also about opportunities. Yes, you can react quickly to problems like data drift, but you can also experiment and keep developing your business.

This shift in the mind from predictive to prescriptive is a natural evolution in how we understand and use AI in their business. And it’s more important in today’s unpredictable economic and competitive business climate, where the ability to make real-time decisions and deliver value quickly can separate the winners from the losers.

Published on February 25, 2021 – 23:03 UTC